Welcome
Welcome to Managed Mentoring (MM).
Hello and welcome. We have two objectives with this program – we want to keep you from struggling, and we want to turn out competent beekeepers who will carry the craft of beekeeping forward.
If you fill out the form below we will add you to our mailing list and you will receive email invitations to our online meetings along with other program announcements.
The program is free. We do not charge to participate. It is underwritten by the Sunhill Honey Company LLC (Kevin Inglin) and supported in partnership with the Northwest New Jersey Beekeepers Association.
Participation
Program Information
Learning how to keep bees is challenging. There is quite a bit that can trip you up along the way. Beginner courses provide a foundation, and we encourage them. This program goes further and stays with you for the first two years – leading you past the potential challenges so you can be successful.
Please invest a moment to get familiar with some of the basics of the program.
“BORN IN” NEW JERSEY
This program has been expanding since its launch in 2015. Originally delivered in seminar form, COVID compelled us to transform it into a web-based delivery. In 2023 we opened it from a closed regional pilot to wide availability to the Mid-Atlantic region (and beyond).
NOT NJ BASED? CAN YOU CAN STILL JOIN IN? Yes, with a Caveat
If you are outside of New Jersey, and especially if you are from the Mid-Atlantic region, you are welcome to participate. Please recognize however that the instruction and lessons delivered are geared toward Mid-Atlantic beekeepers. A very large percentage of what we will teach applies to everyone. In some instances, as you will learn, your location will mean the instructions are not going to work for you. Please keep this in mind as you participate in the program.
DIRECT MENTOR VISITS
As you will learn, this program has a mentor visit aspect. At this time this is only offered to the Northwest New Jersey Beekeeper’s Association branch members and clubs that follow our mentor visit model.
We understand that this might be disappointing to those not eligible for in-person visits but we are confident that the overall benefit of what you will learn is well worth your time and that is why we have opened it to the New Jersey / Mid-Atlantic Region.
FURTHER STIPULATIONS IN THE PROGRAM
In the spirit of being transparent, there are a few more stipulations to disclose, but for now, let’s take a moment to outline the program and we will come back to those in a little bit.
What is Managed Mentoring – How will it benefit you?
TRAINING DURING YOUR JOURNEY
Beekeeper training is often introductory and that is it. It will be hard to find programs that will provide timely guidance along the path of your learning. We are striving to change this.
CONTENT FOCUSED FOR THE TASK AT HAND – NO FLUFF
You will find that we have designed the courseware to be succinct, and direct. We do not expand on fringe items that are not relevant, as we go along. Our instruction stays on task and on point.
YOU GET WHAT YOU PUT IN
It requires time to consume the content. There are 75+ lessons and online meetings. You can do it by trial and error or watch our lessons and then operate with your bees. We believe if you invest to follow the program as it is designed you will come to trust us and follow the program as you learn the craft.
How does the Program Operate?
SOME RELEVANT DETAILS ABOUT HOW THE PROGRAM OPERATES
WHAT DOES IT COST?
It is free. We have to train our beekeepers and while we are doing it, we are opening the program to others. The costs of operation are being borne by the creator and the Northwest Beekeepers Association contracted services. In time we may seek some support from underwriters (industry sponsorships) but we have zero plans to charge for this program (ever).
HOW IS THE TRAINING DELIVERED?
At the core of the program are lessons provided via YouTube-hosted videos. As a participant, we ask you to watch a handful of video lessons and then come to a live online hosted meeting twice a month. The schedules are posted on the home page.
Our live meetings review the recent lessons and facilitate Q&A to ensure everyone is confident about what they learned and any instructions needed to accomplish the tasks ahead.
IN-PERSON COMPONENT
For participating clubs, the program is supplemented with in-person visits. Mentors come to your apiary and ensure that you are on the right track and to provide you some guidance in monitoring for varroa, inspections, and other aspects that are appropriate for the time of the visit.
For those participating with the model agency (Northwest NJ Beekeepers), the program is also supplemented with field lessons in the training apiaries.
KICKOFF AND INTRODUCTION MEETING
The program kicks off with an online meeting that outlines the program with some more details and then as each phase progresses you review the course lesson on video and come to the online meeting twice a week over the timeline for the program track you are in.
Further Exploration
Explore Further – Learn More
We know this was a long read…. Still, if you are still interested in some additional information, or you have questions that we have not answered yet, click the link below to visit a page that has additional information to review.
Expanded Get Started Information Page